The rise of the solopreneur: The best places in London to work from

As the 9 to 5 in the office becomes a thing of the past, Nicky Clarke rounds up the best places in London to work out of. Remember to set your OOO.  
Laptop lounging: Where to work from in London
Nicky Clarke9 October 2015

The stratospheric rise of the ‘solopreneur’ – business owners who work out of restaurants and bars rather than their own office – has seen a crop of venues cater to their needs. Free WiFi. Coffee refills. Snack menus. Comfy lounge areas. These are the best of the bunch.

Andaz London

Free meeting rooms: Andaz at Liverpool Street

Close to the commuters of Liverpool Street, Andaz London is one of the city’s hottest hotels, not just because of its well-appointed bedrooms but also because of its work ethic. That is, the lounge area attached to the Catch Champagne near the entrance, bedecked with communal tables for board meetings and sumptuous seating for downtime. Naturally, complimentary WiFi comes as standard, while ample charging points are scattered throughout to keep phones, laptops and other devices fully-charged.

But fuel is needed for the fire and when concentration needs stoking a range of menus is available from breakfast through to dinner including light bites and charcuterie boards. And when work is done, cocktails and champagne can be brought direct to the lounge, perfect when celebrating a signed contract.

Better still, Andaz London is launching Space To Startup this autumn, a membership scheme with benefits for solopreneurs: access to a dedicated working space called the Gallery, free meeting room bookings, super-fast internet, complimentary tea and coffee, and 20% off the hotel’s restaurants and bars. Otto Steenbeek, general manager, says: “We’re committed to welcoming solopreneurs, a crucial part of the city’s business community and are a vibrant sauce of economic growth and innovation in the capital. Some establishments can be reluctant to cater for this demographic, but when we serve a solopreneur we believe that it could be the next Mark Zuckerberg or the future CEO of a successful multinational company.”

Drake & Morgan at King’s Cross

WiFi and plug-in points: Drake & Morgan at King's Cross

Just opened, Drake & Morgan at King’s Cross – the flashy flagship for the ever-growing bar and restaurant group – is as much about work as play across two floors joined by a stunning emerald green staircase. Dylan Murray, director of operations, says: “Our ninth bar and restaurant offers a relaxed yet professional lounge area, fully-equipped with everything required to run a business outside of your usual office space. There’s free WiFi and plenty of plug-in points as well USB ports to ensure clients are always connected. Surrounded by a library of books and sat in comfy seating, our staff are always on-hand to provide snacks and refill tea and coffee throughout the day to ensure all needs are met out of the office.” Afterwards, workers can go from board meet to bar with ever-creative cocktails and a late-night DJ. Perfect for blowing off steam.

The Hoxton Holborn

Laptops in the lounge: The Hoxton Holborn

With three hotels to its name – most recently throwing open the doors to a superslick stay in Amsterdam – The Hoxton has brought its own brand of work/life balance to Holborn. Sharan Pasricha, CEO, says: “We’re all about being inclusive and want our public spaces to provide a place where locals can hang out, work, eat, drink and play alongside hotel guests who get to experience the neighbourhood vibes, too. We want everyone who comes through our doors to feel at home whether you’re a creative freelance or hot-shot lawyer there to catch up on emails or just have a coffee with a friend. It’s this melting pot of different people using the space for different purposes that we like to call The Hoxton Hustle.” From laptops-up in the lounge to downing cocktails in the Hubbard & Bell restaurant, it’s a one-size fits-all kind of place. All guests need to bring is their brain.

Providores

Perfect people-watching: The Providores in Marylebone

Open from 8am, early birds really do catch the worm at Providores, the ultra-chic, ever-popular café and restaurant in Marylebone. The window seat at the front is the perfect perch for ploughing through work with charging points, free WiFi and the added bonus of people-watching as Londoners pass by. As you’d expect of a restaurant priding itself on its Antipodean fusion menu, coffee is top-notch from Volcano, while freshly-baked muffins and Crosstown doughnuts are on-hand to keep momentum going. But the best bit? It’s dog-friendly, meaning people can work alongside man’s best friend, saving on the costly dog-sitter fees many offer workers need to fork out for.

Follow Nicky Clarke on Twitter @fri_child
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